International Business Student, Maksim Bolton, took some time to share tips on how he landed his remote internship during COVID-19. In addition to landing the internship he also shares some tips to avoid WFH burn-out. Read on to learn more about how Maksim took a non-traditional approach to landing this internship.

  Major/ Graduation year

 International Business (SCM concentration) / 2022

What organization is your internship with?

Mid-Atlantic Eurasia Business Council

What is your job function and what does it entail?

As an intern, I’ve helped write emails for several different marketing segments, create fliers for upcoming events, and reach out to partner organizations for the cross promotion of our sponsored events.

 What steps did you take to land this remote opportunity during Covid-19?

After not finding any remote internships I was particularly interested in on Handshake, I decided to reach out and connect with MAEBC’s president on LinkedIn. I had planned on applying there at some point during my time at Temple and now seemed perfect. After an informative phone call, I was offered an internship for Summer and Fall 2020.

What were some of the challenges you experienced and how did you overcome them?

As COVID-19 restrictions eased, I found myself getting more and more busy in my personal life and this inevitably interfered with my work. By being open and honest about these occurrences with my boss, I was able to overcome these challenges.

How do you manage to stay focused while you are working remotely?

It’s important to set time limits for yourself and not overwork yourself all day. By setting aside break time and avoiding burnout, it’s much easier to stay focused when working.

What’s the most important thing you have learned since starting your internship?

 I’ve learned that I’m more than capable of working remotely and will likely seek out opportunities for remote employment after graduation. I’ve heard many people who are currently working remotely saying that there’s no reason their job can’t be done remotely under normal conditions, so I’m predicting a considerable shift to remote working over the next few years.

Have you used the Temple University Career Center’s services and resources? If so, how did they help?

I reached out to someone at the Career Center and had an informal Zoom call with them in which they provided me with advice for moving forward after my initial internship had been cancelled. It was reassuring to have someone listen to my concerns and provide me with useful options for moving forward.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search during this time?

While many opportunities are limited during this time, many more opportunities will inevitably arise in different fields. Keep an open mind and always be willing to learn.

by ryan dawson, outreach specialist, temple university career center

Dow is a multinational technology, chemical and biological science company that uses its multi-platform approach to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems, such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agro-sciences and plastics businesses delivers more than 6,000 technology-based product families to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. They hire a number of majors from a wide variety of skill sets.

Name: Kevin Dang

Major/Graduation year: Management Information Systems, Fox School Of Business, 2021 graduate

What organization is your internship with? Dow (formerly known as The Dow Chemical Company) in Midland, Michigan.

What semester did you do this internship? Summer Internship 2019 (May 2019 to Aug 2019)

What is/was your job function and what does a typical day entail? I worked on the Employee Experience Services Productivity and Collaboration team, EXS Productivity and Collaboration for short. My leader was Amber, a service manager who handles the Cisco collaboration services. The project I worked on for the summer involved creating a dashboard with automated capabilities for the managers under EXS Productivity and Collaboration to view high-level metrics. This allows them to gain quick, actionable insights and greater visibility in order to determine the health of their services. An average day for me would consist of meeting with co-workers to gather data and/or learn certain processes, working with the data in Power BI to build out the dashboards, and attending intern events such as lunches with directors, site tours, team building exercises, and many more.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like? Thanks to Temple’s IBIT (Institute for Business and Information Technology)’s IT Career Fair, I was able to speak with a representative from Dow and a Temple alumni who worked at Dow. Following this great conversation, I gave them my resume, followed up with an email, and eventually was offered an interview after submitting my online application. Given I would be working at the Dow headquarters in Midland, Michigan; I was given a phone interview, which went rather smoothly. A couple weeks after the interview, I was offered the internship for the summer.

How has your internship related to your course work? MIS is the incorporation of technology to make a business better. My entire team was oriented around this core concept. EXS for Dow is the Global Information Systems team that makes sure a Fortune 100 company consisting of over 50,000 employees worldwide can run as smoothly as it does leveraging technology. Thanks to the courses I’ve been exposed to and my professors, I came into my internship understanding how I could impact the company before ever stepping foot inside it.

What is the most important thing you have learned during your internship/job experience? I have learned so much about what it means to collaborate. The “New Dow” has been pushed a lot when my group of interns first arrived, and the new catchphrase they were pushing for us was “Seek Together”. Whether it was doing my own work or observing my peers and leaders, I began to really understand that no matter how hard you try, you will always be better off working collaboratively than being a lone wolf. There is so much knowledge and experience around you that the best thing for you to do is to be a sponge.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search? Be passionate about what you are studying and what you believe in. Employers like to see drive and people who can bring their whole selves to work. Don’t be afraid to try new things either! I never thought I would end up going out of state for an internship, but here I am now, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else. At the end of the day, you are more capable than you think you are. You will make friends, you will learn a lot about yourself, but most importantly, you will grow.

Did the career center assist you in any way, whether it was identifying the opportunity, applying to it, interviewing for it, or preparing for it? Fox’s CSPD (the business school’s version of the career center) provided a lot of great resume feedback and helped me stand out when I otherwise would not due to my prior lack of experience.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple? Be proactive; jobs/internships will not come to you easily. Go to career fairs, talk to your professors, and ask your friends, every little bit counts. Get involved in student professional organizations that are relevant to what you want to do and grow your network. A school like Temple can provide a great education, but even more valuable are the opportunities that arise. Take advantage of them.

 Do you have a profile on Twitter and/or Instagram? If so, what are your usernames? @kevinkhangdang on Instagram

This summer, Career Center staff traveled to the Navy Yard to visit four Temple students interning at the URBN Headquarters. URBN has a robust internship program with approximately 100 students from across the nation! Departments that host interns include photo studio, marketing, engineering, social media, video, styling, buying, merchandising & so much more! The internship program provides countless opportunities for interns when it comes to professional development & exposure to different aspects of the company. The URBN Internship program hosts Executive Chats with the CEO’s of each of their brands (Free People, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Nuuly),  and a variety of professional development workshops for new interns.

The deadline for URBN’s Summer 2020 internship program is November 11^th.  You can review and apply for their internships by using Handshake!

From left to right: Anastasia Postolati – FOX 2020, Kate Goldinger – KLEIN 2022, Colin Best – TYLER 2020, Singley Risico – KLEIN 2021

These four owls took some time out of their schedule to share their thoughts on their URBN experience and how to land an internship.

Singley Risico – KLEIN 2021

Advertising Student, Singley Risico, shared some helpful tips on landing an internship. “Build. Your. Resume! Having a strong and aesthetically pleasing resume is entirely within your jurisdiction, so take control of that. Also find something that you’re passionate about and use that to help you stand out. Being in a club you barely attend or aren’t passionate about will do nothing for you. Every career move you make should have some correlation with your dream job, even if it’s a small connection. While you might be amazing at pumping out job/internship applications, building a network of people is also important. Applications can kind of feel like cold calling, but try to break these walls and put a face to your name through networking and building connections. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door!”

Kate Goldinger – KLEIN 2022

When asked about an important lesson she learned through her internship, Public Relations student, Kate Goldinger, shared, “I learned that it is important to utilize your team as each person has different skills and resources to help create the best end-product possible. Also, the more creativity the better. Asking others for their opinions or ideas can only help what you are working on and allow it to grow and expand into something great.”

Colin Best – TYLER 2020

Facilities Management student, Colin Best, explained more about how his internship relates to his coursework. “This internship has given me a firsthand look at how projects are managed start to finish and what kind of details go into these massive projects. I also have gained a better understanding of how teams might break down responsibilities for large scale projects.”

Anastasia Postolati – FOX 2020

Management Information Systems student, Anastasia Postolati, shared, “Do whatever it takes and be patient! If there is an internship or a job you want, talk to as many people as you can, do extensive research, and reach out, reach out, reach out! There is nothing wrong with making it known just how badly you want to work somewhere. If something is your true passion, go after it. In terms of being patient, I think it is important to understand that things happen when they do for a reason. Looking back now, I am actually glad I didn’t get this internship on my first try! I feel like I have so much more knowledge, experience, and drive today than I did a year ago.”

Theater, Film and Media Arts student, Sarah McKenzie, is planning to graduate with a B.A. in Theater focusing in Costume Design in May of 2020.  This past summer she interned at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Read more to learn about Sarah’s experience…

Spotlight Questions:

Major/Graduation year

Theater Major (Focus in Costume Design), Art Minor. Expected Graduation May 2020

What organization is your internship with?

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

What semester did you do this internship?

Summer 2018

What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

Intern in The Costume & Textiles Curatorial Department.

There was no typical day in the C&T Department, but my job did include pulling and returning objects to/from storage, labeling items, some small sewing projects, and dressing mannequins! One project that I did spend a few days on was pulling over 400 hats from storage to measure them and then inputting that measurement data into the museum’s database. The Department is currently preparing for two exhibitions that open in the fall, so things are very busy!

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

I was self-inspired to look into the PMA’s internship opportunities because of the museum’s incredible collection of costumes and textiles, and I hoped to examine the work of great designers, as well as historical dress, up close. To apply I sent my resume and a short essay describing why I believed I would be a good candidate for the Museum Studies Internship. I also sent two letters of recommendation. After applying I was invited for an interview about a month and a half later. About another month and a half after interviewing, I was offered the internship.

How has your internship related to your course work?

I have focused my studies on Costume Design and Production, so I came into the internship with a significant amount of knowledge of the historical dress and practical sewing. I have applied these skills in sewing undergarments for display pieces and using my knowledge of historical fashion to inform research. I have also learned a significant amount about garment construction from observing and handling garments up close, and the internship has opened the door for me to apply my passion for costume and garments to a whole other career.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

To make connections! SO many people are ready and willing to help you out if only you ask them.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

Think creatively about where to apply for an internship! Consider your relevant skill set and think about where those skills could be applied!

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

This was my first internship while attending Temple, but I’ve learned that it’s important to put effort into your application and heavily research the company or institution you are applying to. If you go into an interview knowledgeable and excited about the company, it will impress your interviewer and show you are serious about interning with them!

 Do you have a profile on Twitter and/or Instagram? If so, what are your usernames?

Instagram; @sarahmcki

The Career Center recently connected with Klein School of Media and Communications, junior, Kevin Zabel about his past internship at the Brownstein Group. Read on to learn more about the unique way that Kevin landed his internship. Sometimes utilizing the people around you can pay off…

Kevin Zabel outside of his internship at the Brownstein Group

Major/Graduation year

• Advertising / 2020

What organization is your internship with?

• Brownstein Group

What semester did you do this internship?

• Summer 2018

What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

• I was an Account Management / New Business intern at an advertising agency in center city. I assisted the New Business team. Our main job is to be the first people in contact with new clients who reach out to the agency, and we facilitate the whole process of acquiring those companies. Each member of the New Business team also has their own accounts and clients that they work with on the side as well. A typical day would be working on my final project – a research project for a client – and to aid in various background research and compilation of the research into formal word documents.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

• I found out about this opportunity from a mentor. The interview process was fairly standard, but as I was studying abroad in Italy during the semester, that made it tricky for me. I knew that since I am young and wasn’t able to come for an in-person interview, these would be obstacles, so I set up an informational interview with the agency ahead of time. This way, they could see me in person before I left for Rome. The formal application started with a resume and cover letter submission, and I followed up with an online interview a while later, once the applicant pool was sifted through. Then, I heard a few weeks later that I was offered the internship.

How has your internship related to your course work?

• This has been my first internship in a setting where I plan to work, and my classwork has provided me with nearly all the basic information that I needed to have in order to be an effective worker. I was able to see concepts I have learned about over and over in the classroom, and now I have finally seen them in action.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

• This may be an unconventional way to answer the question, but the most important thing I’ve learned during my internship is that advertising really is the field that I want to go into when I am older. I started out at Temple as a marketing major but always longed for the creativity that came with advertising. I had more exposure to a business career setting in high school, with less exposure to a career like advertising, and now that I have seen it firsthand for an extended period of time, I can see that I made the right choice by switching majors.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

• If you are better in person than on paper, or just have a personality that draws people to you, then try to meet possible employers in person before they decide whether or not to hire you. People only can look so good on a resume, but great personalities stand out much more, and if employers interview someone that they genuinely like, they will want to hire them. So utilize your witty sense of humor or charming personality, because it could take you far.

Did the career center assist you in any way, whether it was identifying the opportunity, applying to it, interviewing for it, or preparing for it?

• Yes, and although I was abroad while I needed to prepare for my application and interviews, I had a great friend in Rome with me who works as a Career Ambassador for the Career Center and she always was more than willing to help me with my resume and cover letters and anything in between. If I were on campus I would have happily gone to the career center for help, but luckily my friend was there to help.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

• One huge thing that I have learned during my time at Temple about obtaining jobs is that networking takes you extremely far, even farther than good grades. Networking is one of the main reasons to go to college, and it really leads to huge opportunities. Networking events, in particular, are always worth the effort to go because you have nothing to lose by going to events and meeting new people who are eager to learn and work hard. And possibly even help you out.

 Do you have a profile on Twitter and/or Instagram? If so, what are your usernames?

• Twitter: @kevinzabel_
• Instagram: @kevinzabel

Kimberly Burton scored an internship with the National Journalism Center that combined both her majors in Political Science and Journalism. This internship fueled both of her passions and allowed her to hone in her writing skills.  Read more to learn about Kimberly’s experience…

Kimberly Burton

Major/Graduation year: Journalism and Political Science, 2020

What organization is your internship with? National Journalism Center (placement at Newsmax)

What semester did you do this internship? Summer 2018

What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

As a National Journalism Center intern, I am placed at Newsmax under the Chief Political and White House Correspondent John Gizzi. I work with him four days a week, and I could be doing anything from interviewing individuals on Capitol Hill, attending meetings, writing articles, or even going to the White House. One day a week I attend special programming at the National Journalism Center offices where they bring in industry professionals to teach us about different aspects of journalism and communications.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

I found out about this opportunity through an organization called Young America’s Foundation (YAF) which is the parent organization for NJC. I was attending a YAF conference last summer and I was able to speak with representatives from the organization.

After I applied, I was contacted about conducting an interview. I completed a phone interview and then heard back later on in the spring semester.

How has your internship related to your course work?

As a journalism and political science double major, it’s been really great to work in political journalism. I’ve been able to apply not only my research and writing skills from my journalism classes but also knowledge from my political science classes. I’m extremely interested in US government and also foreign relations so I’ve been able to cover both and meet individuals involved in both areas.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

I’ve learned a lot through course work, but the most important thing I’ve learned is how to improve my writing skills, network, etc. At my internship program, I participate in Friday seminar days at the headquarters, but I also took an optional long-form/investigative writing night class! All these things have definitely improved my skills in order to be a better journalist!

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

It can sometimes be hard to find an internship that fits your needs or career goals, but really searching and speaking with other people or attending events can help you find that dream internship.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

I think the main things I’ve learned is the importance of internships since internships and real-life experience really make the difference between you and another student’s application/resume.

 Do you have a profile on Twitter and/or Instagram? If so, what are your usernames?

Twitter: @KimberlyBurton_

College of Science and Technology student, Alankato Cobb Jr., is planning to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience in 2021.  This past summer he interned on the medical and scientific affairs team at Novo Nordisk.  Read more to learn about Alankato’s experience…

Alankato after the case competition

What is/was your job function and what does a typical day entail?

I was an intern for the medical and scientific affairs team in the clinical, medical and regulatory department at Novo Nordisk. More specifically in this department, I worked with medical directors on our insulin portfolio. Every day varied. However, for the most part, I attended meetings with different departments in the organization; shadowing different areas. I also attended employee resource groups meetings and worked on several projects throughout the summer. A large project included a clinical experience forum, for which I gathered several health care prescribers that prescribed one of our products, and set up a conference in Nebraska to which I also got to attend and chair. The second biggest project was Novo Nordisk’s Innovation in Action Case Competition. We worked on developing an innovative solution throughout the last ten weeks on an issue facing Novo Nordisk.  There were eight groups of eight interns, and my team placed first.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

I am connected to an employee that works at Novo Nordisk. She told me that I should apply for the internship program and I did, and thankfully got in. The interview process was split into two rounds. The first round I met with a hiring team member to answer some questions, over the phone. We were selected from this round into the next, where I then interviewed with my manager and her manager as well to again answer questions. This was done via Skype. The interview process was a little difficult for me since this was my first internship but by the second round, I believe I did pretty well.

How has your internship related to your course work?

So far I have taken science and math classes, and those have helped me to understand the products that Novo Nordisk creates. For instance, when studying up on the insulin products, I was able to understand the chemical knowledge that I was reading up on. Also, I was able to see the insides of an actual pharmaceutical company and how all the components of Novo work. More specifically I worked with physicians on different medical matters within the industry. I have met people with backgrounds I am seeking to pursue and it very much made me even more excited about the classes I am taking and the career path I am pursuing.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

During my internship, I have definitely learned how pharma can directly impact the patients for which they create products for. Novo Nordisk was not just a business but an organization that wants to truly help all of their patients through many resources. I also learned the different business paths that physicians can take, and it really broadened my horizon on career paths that I can pursue. Finally, the most important thing I learned was how to contribute and be a team player for group tasks. Many of my projects included group work and it was very eye-opening on the different challenges and benefits of group projects. Seeing and being a part of the processes where groups interconnected to reach a common goal was very cool.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

I believe establishing connections with people can go a long way. I was able to apply and thankfully get this internship at Novo Nordisk because of the connections I had previously. So definitely put yourself out there and try to create networks with different people, not just in your desired field but all over.

Do you have a profile on Twitter and/or Instagram? If so, what are your usernames?

Instagram : aj.cxx

We recently caught up with sophomore, College of Engineering student, Dalton Benard about his internship with Graham Engineering. Read more to learn about Dalton’s electrical engineering experience…

What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

My job at Graham Engineering was to assemble electrical panels which would then be used to control large plastic extruding machines. This job was new, as the panel shop was created about a month or two before I joined. It was very insightful to see how Graham Engineering made processes more efficient and productive. This was one of the major advantages of being at this job when I was, as I got to see a part of the company start up and begin to take shape.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

I found this position from an employee that worked there previously and recommended me for this internship. The interview process involved two people, including the head of the HR department.

How has your internship related to your coursework?

Through this internship, I gained the base layer knowledge of what my intro classes have been teaching me – seeing how assemblers take the designs of engineers and then assemble these electrical panels for later use in machines. This internship allowed me to see how my job as an engineer will impact the manufacturing side of work.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

The most important thing I learned through this internship was the importance of teamwork.  Working with a small group of very knowledgeable people helped me.  I also realized that I have some knowledge that some of the employees didn’t have. It was a give and take relationship being able to use all of our skills to build and assemble these panels. Another thing I learned is to ask questions. If you don’t know something, definitely speak up. Ask for someone’s help who knows the answer rather than guessing and making a very expensive mistake.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

Always put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to start at a small company. My long-term goal is to work for a large tech company, but to establish my reputation I must start out by honing my skills through small companies to help myself gain the attention of larger companies. Also, join many clubs and organizations on campus. You will meet new people to help build your connections and possibly learn of new job opportunities that were unforeseen before you connected with that person.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

Join many organizations and attend career fairs to meet new people and to connect with new individuals that can present opportunities for possible jobs and or internships.

Twitter- Dalton_benard                      Instagram- daltonb3399

The Career Center recently connected with recent Klein School of Media and Communications graduate, Hannah Lea McComsey, about her past internship at Good Morning America in New York, NY. Read on to learn more about the unique way that Hannah landed her internship. Sometimes your personal network can get you farther than you might think…

Hannah McComsey

What is/was your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

I worked for the Field and Series unit of Good Morning America. The Field and Series unit creates all of the pre-produced news packages that will air on Good Morning America in the mornings. My favorite part of this internship is that there was no such thing as a typical day! Some days I was assigned to research stories and people to potentially interview, other days I was actually conducting the interviews that aired on the live show. Each day was something different and I learned how to thrive in that type of environment.

How did you find out about this opportunity, and what was the interview process like?

After interning for several news stations in Philadelphia, my next goal was to secure a network internship in New York. I applied to many different shows on ABC, NBC, and CBS. After about a month, I got a phone call from the ABC News Internship Recruiter. After I had an initial phone screening with the recruiter, she passed my information along to the Coordinating Producer at Good Morning America. I had an interview with the Coordinating Producer, and a few weeks later, she called and informed me of my acceptance to the internship program at GMA.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

During my time as an intern for Good Morning America, I learned that saying “yes” to anything you are asked to do is the key to success. Sometimes, a task may seem tedious or boring, but once people at your internship see that you are willing to help in any capacity, they will ask you to do more and more things! I started out by logging interviews for producers. Although this was not the most exciting task, I said yes every time and made sure to do the job as best I could. Then, after a while, the producers started to ask me to go out in the city and do actual interviews to air on GMA. Saying yes and working hard really pays off, I would recommend that to everyone who is starting a new internship.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

I would tell other students who are looking for internships to apply everywhere and be very persistent! I applied for the internship with Good Morning America two times before actually getting an interview. By being persistent and keeping in touch with the ABC Internship Recruiter, I made sure that she knew I was serious about this position. Then, when the internship for the spring semester came up, she told me I was the first on her list to interview because I kept in touch with her.

Did the career center assist you in any way, whether it was identifying the opportunity, applying to it, interviewing for it, or preparing for it?

Karen Demmler, one of the Career Center coaches, helped me immensely! Karen helped me revamp my LinkedIn profile so that potential employers could see my work and identify exactly what my goals were. LinkedIn notifies me when people look at my profile, and after Karen helped me, I noticed I was getting more views from potential employers.

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

Temple has taught me to not see rejection or failure as a bad thing, but to see rejection as an opportunity to learn and go forward stronger than ever. When I did not get the internship at Good Morning America the first time, I made sure to work on my storytelling skills so that the next time I applied, I would be ready. It paid off!

Instagram: hannah_mccomsey

Twitter: @hannah_mccomsey

This summer, Career Center staff visited 13 Temple students interning at Burlington Stores. Burlington’s 10-week summer internship program employs students for 40 hours per week, allowing them to accumulate lots of valuable experience.  During our visit, the students explained how they developed their time management, organization, communication and analytical problem-solving skills through the internship experience. Many of the students particularly enjoyed the opportunity to shadow various departments during their experience. The Career Center interviewed senior, Media Studies and Production major, Jordyn Fisher-Robinson while we were there. Read on to learn more about her experience, and keep an eye out for opportunities similar to the Burlington Stores internship program in Handshake…

Temple Owls in front of the Burlington Store logo

What department are you working with?

Buying – Ladies Athletic Shoes

What was the interview process like?

The College Recruiters from Burlington were very responsive and great to work with! I had a phone interview, then an in-person interview with 4 people in the office, and I actually work under one of the buyers that interviewed me! The questions were focused on my experience and what I knew about the off-price industry. Coming from a major with no relation to buying was interesting, but I wanted to get my foot in the door of the fashion industry. I learned through this experience that I really love buying as well!

Jordyn Fisher-Robinson – KLEIN 18′

What is your job function, and what does a typical day entail?

I work with an assistant buyer in completing daily tasks such as going over the style report to see what our best sellers were, looking at shipping to know what was appointed for the month, and writing purchase orders for companies like Nike, Adidas, Puma, Fila, U.S. Polo, and Sketchers. I also traveled “in  market” twice a week (Wednesday and Thursday) in New York to meet with said vendors. I made sure my style report was printed and highlighted so I knew which styles were our best and worst sellers for the vendor meetings. Next, we did a lot of comp shopping. A big part of being a buyer is looking at your competition and making sure your prices are better. Burlington prices itself on its value, so we make sure our customer gets the best deal.

How has your internship related to your coursework?

Currently, I do not go to school for buying so everything I learned was completely new. I worked in retail for 3 years at Charming Charlie as a manager so I wanted to get into anything fashion so I could get my foot in the door.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your internship/job experience?

Try your best to maintain a work/life balance, this summer I worked three jobs and being in buying can definitely be overwhelming sometimes. But know your priorities and get done what you can! It can definitely be done.

What piece of advice would you give to current students embarking on an internship/job search?

Keep trying! I applied to 10 jobs before I got this one. It can be hard and you may shed a few tears but it’s all worth it when you get the job!

Have you learned any valuable lessons about obtaining jobs/internships during your time at Temple?

Networking and connecting with people is so important. I’ve met so many people in important roles, but as long as you stay humble and are yourself everything will work out.